August 11, 2022 – Crews have completed decontamination in the most highly radioactive cell at the Main Plant Process Building at the West Valley Demonstration project.

Cleanup of the Product Purification Cell‐South, which resembled a 57‐foot tall elevator shaft, “contributed to an overall reduction in radiological hazards that will support the demolition of the Main Plant,” according to Joseph Pillittere, a spokesman for CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, the contractor working on the nuclear cleanup at the West Valley site.

The U.S. Department of Energy is removing as much radioactive and other hazardous material like asbestos as possible before demolition of the plant begins sometime this fall.

The West Valley plant, which operated from the mid 1960s to 1972, was the first commercial reprocessing site for spent nuclear fuel rods. The owner, Nuclear Fuel Services, shut down the plant rather than install additional environmental safeguards.

Product Purification Cell‐South was used to house vessels associated with plutonium separation, concentration, material controls and batching for shipping. Link to article

August 9, 2022 – EM and its cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) recently overcame unique challenges and successfully finished deactivating a highly contaminated cell resembling an elevator shaft in the Main Plant Process Building.

The successful cleanup of the Product Purification Cell‐South by EM and CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) contributed to an overall reduction in radiological hazards that will support the demolition of the Main Plant, an EM 2022 priority.

During former nuclear fuel reprocessing operations, the cell was used to house vessels associated with plutonium separation, concentration, material controls and batching for shipping.

Due to its configuration, the cell was a potentially oxygen‐deficient workspace that required additional planning and work controls, including a trained confined space rescue team. Link to Update

July 28, 2022 – Environmental Management and its prime contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) completed the permeable treatment wall soil and structure removal project and restored the area as part of its ongoing cleanup efforts at the West Valley Demonstration Project.

Materials from the soil and structure removal project were used in constructing the permeable treatment wall, which remains in place.

“This project demonstrated the benefits of using the rail line for waste operations, as well as for increased safety, efficiency, and cost‐savings,” said Steve Bousquet, Department of Energy‐WVDP Deputy Federal Project Director for the Main Plant Process Building. “Our dedicated employees continue to find ways to further improve our cleanup efforts as we look for ways to safely accelerate decommissioning and remediation efforts for the future.” Link to article

July 26, 2022 – Purchasing environmentally friendly products is a longtime goal of EM’s Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project, and the site has been recognized for it for a third year in a row.

….Other 2022 EPEAT Purchaser Award winners from the EM complex include: …CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project. Link to Update

July 14, 2022 – EM and its prime contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley completed the permeable treatment wall soil and structure removal project and restored the area as part of its ongoing cleanup efforts at the West Valley Demonstration Project. Materials from the soil and structure removal project were used in constructing the permeable treatment wall, which remains in place.

Workers used the recently upgraded rail line to safely ship 300 containers of soil and 131 containers of debris generated from this project. Both soil and debris containers were shipped from West Valley to Clive, Utah for disposal. These shipments add to a safe transportation record of more than 25,000 rail miles from January through May 2022. Link to article